Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Aims of study
an analysis of the bioclimatic theories by Malaysian architect Ken Yeang. Focusing on case studies representing the three main phases of Yeangs work analysed through simulation and post occupancy studies. an analysis of selected key bioclimatic features as forwarded in the theories; An analysis of bioclimatic highrise forms and its climatic performance under the Malaysian climate; The aim is to link theory and performance of the highrises and identify any underlying conflicts between the two; To attempt to reconcile theory and performance under its climatic and cultural context
Development of theories
The idea of the environmental filter
a general armature for design (1983)
Tropical urban regionalism(1987) developed from his theories of the critical vernacular The tropical skyscraper (1990) The green and ecological skyscraper ( 1999 -.)
To identify the key bioclimatic features To select appropriate case studies to represent the different phases in the evolution of his theories and designs
To evaluate the energy performances of selecyed bioclimatic features based on his theories and writings
To evaluate the overall performance of the bioclimatic envelopes in terms of energy use, interaction with daylight and heat gain and occupant assessment of internal environments under the Malaysian climate
To compare Yeangs designs with the performances of several highrises by his contemporaries under the tropical context.
Richards (1993) and defines that Yeangs designs as evolving from three major phases : Series 1 (1983 1989) - primary-level design experiments projects which had examined one big idea in a single building; Series 2 (1989 1992) projects which had integrated various ideas and concentrated on the issues of tropical and regional aesthetics;
Series 3 (1992 1996) - projects which had focused on the bioclimatic skyscraper within the context of the ecological agenda.
Powell (1999) also identifies three similar phases in both theory and design in his seminal book Rethinking the Skyscraper the complete architecture of Ken Yeang :
CLIMATIC PHASE
The climatic phase which was based on intuitive climatic principles and was focused on the idea of the environmental filter;
REGIONALIST PHASE
The regionalist phase which was based on a search for a distinctive regional language within the tropical Asian context;
BIOCLIMATIC/ECOLOGICAL PHASE
The bioclimatic/ecological phase which was directed towards a more global context and focused on the environmental agenda.
The EDITT Tower proposal, Singapore (2000), Elephant and Castle Towers, London (2000)
The Plaza IBM, Kuala Lumpur (1984-1987) representing the climatic phase
CASE STUDY 1
The Menara Mesiniaga, Kuala Lumpur (1989-1992) representing the regionalist phase
CASE STUDY 2
CASE STUDY 3
Tested through extensive simulation study using generic and bioclimatic/as designed models
Shadow analysis
BIOCLIMATIC FEATURES
Assessing the impact of core-positioning - positioning of the core areas ( Plaza IBM)
GENERIC
CORE EAST
CORE WEST
BIOCLIMATIC FEATURES Plaza IBM energy and cooling load impact of core placement options
Plaza IBM - Impact of core placement 300 250 Cooling Total
246.1
Kwh/m.sq./yr
186.7
193.0
178.8
170.8
core-east
core-west
model
BIOCLIMATIC FEATURES
Center-core
Double-sided core
with balconies
Core east
Core placement
with skycourts
BIOCLIMATIC FEATURES
Fig. 5.36.a Plaza IBM - 11th floor plan showing the location of the balconies on the eastern and western side of the tower
Fig.5.36b. Plaza IBM - Detail of balconies (as designed) located on east and west sides
cooling total
300.0 250.0
kwh/m.sq./yr
185.7
190.1
skycourt
Generic
Core - East
With shading
Generic
Double sided
With overhangs
283.8 253.1
total
typical
double sided
with shading
BIOCLIMATIC FEATURES
kw
model
300.0 250.0
total
242.8
kwh/m.sq./yr
178.8
169.5
balc + vegetation
UMNO
Mesiniaga
IBM
features
14%
16%
Bioclimatic features
Generally all features have energy saving impact under the tropical climate Core positioning theory and performance Skycourts - Mesiniaga theory and performance
BIO-CLIMATIC DESIGN
BIOCLIMATIC FORMS Optimisation process of the bioclimatic ( design) and generic forms
UMNO(design) - Variation in cooling and total energy use with daylight 260
240
kwh/m.sq./yr
220 200 180 160 140 120 0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8
cooling total
window-to-wall ratio
Generic
UMNO
(1994-1998) 208.4 232.6 297.2
Generic
Mesiniaga
204.1 (1989-1992) 222.0 283.0
Generic
IBM
(1984-1987) 210.6 214.9 283.8
190
200
210
220
230
240
250
260
270
280
290
300
Kwh/m.sq./yr.
Mesiniaga Mesiniagas envelope not able to outperform that of its generic counterpart affected by the spiralling incisions made into its basic form (compared to a more efficient cylindrical formthe consequent high conduction gains due to an increase in its surface-to-volume ratio) For an air-conditioned building in the tropics, ( as compared to a naturally ventilated building) the compactness of form determines overall exposure to heat gains while allowing perimeter areas to be lit by usable daylight.
Yeangs regionalist agenda during this period has interfered with his bioclimatic or environmental one.
He is thoroughly conscious of the loose fit, that architects know only too well, between form and performance; a space in which cultural pressures can produce strange distortions. (Maxwell, 2000)
Likewise, Mesiniagas performance can be explained as related to the extent of this distortion which causes a compromise in climatic terms and can be related to the articulation of an architectural form that would be significant in representing its cultural context.
Richards (1993) points to Mesiniagas success in terms of achieving such a regionalist form: The resultant building - within the philosophical framework of modern architecture which is inflected with appropriate regional characteristics of climate and culture produces a far-Eastern hybrid form.
An evaluation at two levels i.e. on one level as a critique of homogenous high- rise typeforms within a rapidly modernising context and on another level in relation to the necessity of icons as symbols of progress in a rapidly developing country in the tropical Asian context.
State Mortgage Bank by Geoffrey Bawa ( Sri Lanka) Esso tower ( David Russell) ( Bangkok) Telekom Tower ( Hijjas Kasturi_ ( Kuala Lumpur) Petronas Towers ( Cessar Pelli) ( Kuala Lumpur)
Balfour (1999) highlights The evolution of Yeangs architecture is embedded in the emergence of Malaysia as a distinct culture. One hundred years made the task of establishing the cultural voice of Malaysia after colonisation more complex The restoration of a regional and national identity had specific targets: how to inflect architecture with modernist reason while detaching it from Europes tendency for symbolic abstraction; how to frame an architectural language which, while showing an understanding of traditional values, would express the economic ambitions of the new nation.
Kusno (2000) observes on the highrise typeform: .. This represents a process of architectural localisation - a cultural negotiation of the authority of the international style .The technique of incorporating climatic modifiers into what is essentially a modernist structure presupposes an ultimate rejoining of the tropical with the modern and the re-identification of the latter to the former.
Regional
Generic
Mortgage Bank
ESSO
Telekom
Petronas
43%
26%
9% 4% 1%
regional 'positions'
CONCLUSIONS
highlight certain conflicts between Yeangs bioclimatic theories and the performances of his designs. Yeang should be evaluated not only in bioclimatic terms but critical regionalist terms; Mesiniaga may be regarded as a point of maximum tension between two agendas; Its level of compromise is argued as representative of Yeangs critical regionalist position. Yeangs achievement can be argued achieving a critical regionalist position that results in a minimum compromise to attain a culturally differentiated form symbolic significance under its particular cultural context; Can be argued as a position of equipoise or balanced tension between two competing agendas in a developing Asian nation
Acknowledgements
Professor David Robson, School of Architecture and Design, University of Brighton; Professor Dean Hawkes, Cardiff University, United Kingdom